Review-Mirror

•Continued from page 1 "No individual member of council has the authori- ty to direct staff or to redi- rect their work. And to criticize the performance of a staff member who does not respond to this type of direction is unac- ceptable," wrote Bel- lechamber. His presentation to council Monday empha- sized the limits of coun- cil's powers and their rela- tionship with staff. "The CAO reports to council not to individual members of council nor to the mayor. Staff report to the CAO through estab- lished channels," he wrote. The council's adopted practice of email discus- sion on matters outside of a council meeting was ruled on by the provincial ombudsman in 2016 to violate the Municipal Act "Quorum emails' where a majority of members discussed issues prior to a public council meeting and business was advanced was also found by the ombudsman to be not in compliance with the Municipal Act, but Jack- son continued. Bellechamber noted in his report that Jackson continued the practice of encouraging council action on matters despite the ruling. "His colleagues rarely take the bait and move the discussion by email to the level of a meeting by usu- ally refusing to reply. Councillor Jackson is enti- tled to his opinion that the legislation is inappropriate but should not be harming the reputation of the town- ship in order to further that opinion," noted Bel- lechamber. Bellechamber held a training session for staff and councilors Tuesday evening that examined the roles and responsibilities of staff, councilors and municipalities under the current legislation. Coun- cillor Jackson was absent. Council will have the opportunity at their May council meeting to decide on any actions they desire to take based on the com- missioner's report. Bellechamber noted that under the Municipal Act, two penalties were available, a reprimand, or a suspension of remunera- tion for up to 90 days. Last summer Jackson had his remuneration sus- pended after being found to violate the code of con- duct when he disclosed personal information about the suspension and firing of staff members last spring. Bellechamber advised against seeking an apolo- gy although the town- ship's code and the Municipal Act allow those recommendations. "We have observed elsewhere where failure to apologize when requested by council has only served to increase conflict," he wrote. Recordings of the Integrity Commissioner's report as well as the train- ing session are available on the township's website in the agenda section. By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror This summer and fall Louise Cooper will be bringing households a lot of healthy and tasty eating with a weekly provision of locally grown organic veg- etables through her new Canoe Lake CSA. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pro- grams provide farmers with an up-front invest- ment for seeds, tools, soil amendments and other supplies in exchange for a weekly subscription ser- vice of fresh vegetables. Cooper will be growing food at Forest Farm on Canoe Lake Road where she has been growing her family's food cooperative- ly for the last six years with a share of the produce to the farm's couple, David Hahn and Marian Watkins. "I've seen how fresh local food has brought people together," said Cooper who interned for three years with a Kingston area CSA, Patchwork Gardens and has gained more experi- ence from her time on Canoe Lake Road. She's learned many ways to extend the shoul- der seasons for early crops and to enjoy fresh produce later into the fall. She is confident in being able to supply 16 weeks of a selection of vegetables to customers who will have a pick up point in Westport. "It's really wonderful to eat seasonally," said Cooper who in the last weeks has been enjoying newly dug parsnips win- tered over from last year. She'll be planting about half an acre of crops, using bio-intensive techniques which maximize soil health and the space for crops and minimize the space and time for weeds to become established. A greenhouse will be extending some crops into the late fall. 'I'm doing this because I believe that a small, biointensive market gar- den is a viable business, and it's a business I believe in. I'm passionate about good food, and feel that our industrial food system is currently out of our control. "This is a way to take back that control. These rural communities we live in were built on that resilience, and I'd like to have a small role in build- ing and rebuilding a sus- tainable, equitable local food system," she said. Check out their website at www.canoelakecsa.ca. The Review-Mirror April 12, 2018 – 16 This summer Louise Cooper is sharing her garden's harvest through a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program. Members invest up-front for the program and are guaranteed a number of weeks of vegetables. Council can suspend councillor up to 90 days Westport area farm launching Community Supported Agriculture Rideau Valley Guide Your Complimentary Annual Guide to Events, Attractions and Services in the Rideau Lakes Region 2017-18 Published by The Review-Mirror in cooperation with Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce An affordable opportunity to reach visitors and local consumers throughout the area and beyond. Distributed to hotels, motels, Rideau Canal locks, liquor/beer outlets, bait & tackle shops, grocery stores, restaurants, municipal offices, tourist information outlets and The Review-Mirror. For more information call Bill Ritchie at 1-800-387-0796 or 273-8000 advertising@review-mirror.com • 43 Bedford St., Box 130, Westport, ON K0G 1X0 Rideau Valley Guide 2018-19 Mirror The Review Published by The Review-Mirror in co-operation with The Westport & Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce Deadline April 13, 2018 Deadline April 13, 2018

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